The fields of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, and Chemical Engineering prepare students for a wide range of both established and non-traditional career options and possibilities.
The College of Chemistry’s professional Career Adviser, Najet Carrick, is here to help you explore those options and assist you in achieving your professional and educational goals.
Najet is also availabe to discuss off-campus research opportunities.
Najet Carrick
Contact Info
Appointments available via Handshake
About Najet
"I am so fortunate to work with the College of Chemistry students. Over the past two years, I have worked with undergraduate and masters students with their career-related needs. Prior to joining Berkeley Career Engagement and the College of Chemistry, I spent ten years working with students, recent graduates, and professionals from diverse backgrounds to evaluate transferable skills, write resumes and cover letters, recommend job search strategies, and prepare for interviews. I love helping students identify goals, consider options after graduation, and guide them through the internship or job search process. I graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and my professional career has spanned working in multiple industries. I love spending time with my husband and children, and I enjoy reading, hiking, and cooking.
Please feel free to book a time to meet with me on Handshake for virtual and in-person appointments. And be sure to connect with me on my LinkedIn page."
Upcoming Events and Programs
Career Chat: Postdocs
Thursday, May 1, 2025 | 10:00 - 11:00 AM PST | Zoom
In this panel discussion, Drs. Schissel and Peterson will discuss their experiences as postdocs and give advice for current graduate students considering postdoc positions. An audience Q&A will follow.
Everyone is welcome - you do not need to be affiliated with C-GEM to participate!
Please email careerchat@gem-net.net with questions, requests for accommodations, etc.
Speaker bios:
Paul Peterson, Ph.D. earned his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 2023 under the mentorship of Prof. Paul Chirik where he studied iron-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. He is now an NIH Postdoctoral scholar in Prof. Scott Miller’s lab at Yale University.
Carly Schissel, Ph.D. earned her B.A. in Chemistry from Williams College, where she worked under the mentorship of Prof. Thomas Smith. She pursued her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, working with Prof. Brad Pentelute where she focused on designing peptide sequences for the nuclear delivery of macromolecules. Carly joined UC Berkeley as a Miller Institute Postdoctoral Fellow, hosted by Prof. Alanna Schepartz. Her current research centers on developing peptide backbone editing reactions. In August 2025, she will launch her own group in the Department of Chemistry at the Pennsylvania State University.
This professional development event is being hosted by the NSF Center for Genetically Encoded Materials (C-GEM), a Center for Chemical Innovation that includes faculty from Berkeley, Yale, Boston College, Cornell, Georgia Tech, St. Jude, and the University of New Mexico. We host career chats regularly and would love to invite your trainees.
Cal Job Shadow Program Summer Opportunity
Application Deadline: Monday, May 12, 2025
UC Berkeley Career Engagement is excited to announce this year’s summer session of the Cal Job Shadow Program. This is a unique opportunity for students to experience life after UC Berkeley. Over Summer Break (June 2nd - August 1st, 2025), students shadow alumni at their workplaces- observing day to day activities, doing an informational interview or completing small projects.
To complete the registration process, please sign up on the My Berkeley Online Portal today!
NEW Workshop Series: Internship Success Sessions
Six Sessions: 5/15, 5/29 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Berkeley Career Engagement, Blue Room (3rd Floor)
Join us in a supported workspace to research, prepare and apply for your ideal internship. Learn about opportunities for paid internships, micro-internships and more. Bring your laptop and friends to collaborate and get real-time feedback on internship opportunities, optimize your internship search and learn about additional tips and resources.
NOTE: These are drop in sessions. You can register for only one or all depending on the support you need.
Register for the session that best fits your schedule on Handshake.
Open Grad School Programs
Master of Applied Chemical Sciences (MACS)
Application Deadline: June 1, 2025
On behalf of UCLA’s Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, we are pleased to announce our new 2-year program, Master of Applied Chemical Sciences (MACS). MACS was designed in response to our industry partners' high demand for professional and well trained chemistry graduates. MACS courses will be taught by UCLA Chemistry & Biochemistry faculty and each student will be provided with an individual mentorship by one of the program’s faculty advisors.
The program will also routinely interface with industry research and business leaders from corporate sector, which includes materials and energy (3M, ExxonMobil, GE, Tesla, Applied Materials, IBM) and pharma and biotech (Pfizer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Corteva Agrosciences) companies as well as multiple start-ups and several government and non-profit organizations.
As part of this program, it's anticipated a significant industrial recruiting effort on campus.
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Application Deadline: June 1, 2025
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine offers 19 PhD programs, 19 master’s programs, and several certificate, research, and post-doctoral opportunities.
Their newest program—the Master of Science in Biotechnology is accepting applications.
This 30-credit hour program can be completed in 18 months to two years and offers three specialization tracks:
If you’re interested in learning more about this program or any other opportunities at the CWRU School of Medicine, please complete this short interest form.
University of Kentucky’s Dept. of Toxicology & Cancer Biology
Fall 2025 Application Deadline: July 25, 2025
Learn more about the MS in Forensic Toxicology and Analytical Genetics program is a professional degree program, which educates and prepares students to enter the workforce as working professionals
Master’s in Forensic Toxicology & Analytical Genetics:
- No GRE requirement
- Two concentration focuses including Forensic Toxicology/Chemistry and Forensic/Analytical Genetics
- Two internships, which will provide hand-on experiences necessary to exit the program and be competitive in the job market
- Graduates are competitive for workforce deployment in the areas of: Drug Testing and Analysis, DNA/ Genetic Testing & Analysis, Forensic Governmental Divisions, Hospital Clinical Labs, Cancer Genetics, Genealogy, Crime Laboratories, Research and Developmental Laboratories
- Tuition for this program is assessed at a special tuition rate for all students (in- and out-of-state), which represents a significant savings for out-of-state students
Note: applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, meaning, once you submit your application we will review it within a few weeks and let you know a decision shortly after.
STEM Funding Opportunities
For Undergraduates
Paid Summer 2025 Undergraduate Research Placements:
Over 700 programs – NSF REU, NASA, NIH and other paid summer research opportunities for undergrads
For Financial Support in Graduate School
Fellowships and graduate programs in a wide variety of STEM disciplines:
For tips on applying and associated resources
For opportunities specifically in the Ocean Sciences
For opportunities specifically in Engineering
